The leading European music festivals you need to go to this summer

Senior Writer

Thinking of going to a music festival with your mates this summer?

Although the popular British festivals such as Bestival, Boomtown and Reading & Leeds are all appealing in their own right, the European festival bug is undoubtedly catching on to the thousands of Brits who are choosing to head overseas for European music festivals each year. And why wouldn't they? Festivals overseas in tropical paradises such as Barcelona and Benicassim pretty much guarantee wonderful, sunny weather and beaches galore. Of course, there is a certain charm to basking in the muddy glory of British festivals, but perhaps this should be the year you try out a festival abroad, where sunshine and glorious live music awaits.

Primavera is pretty much the king of the European music festivals. This is because the festival organisers are prone to choosing such a diverse and eclectic variety of legendary musical acts, and this year is surely no different. With the likes of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Kendrick Lamar, Bjork, Lorde, Beach House, Belle and Sebastian, Arctic Monkeys, Slowdive and so many more, the lineup arguably is the most impressive of the year. You'd be a fool to miss out.

Being relatively new in the festival game, you may think that the organisers of Mad Cool Festival may not be capable of pulling out quite as many stops as it's older, more experienced competitors such as Primavera. Yet, the Madrid-based festival is quickly establishing itself as one of the best music festivals in Europe as a result of its brilliant location and dazzling line up. This year, the likes of Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, Alice and Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Massive Attack, MGMT and Tame Impala are just some amongst many taking the stage for this mammoth-weekend. At only €180 euros it is a steal - and be quick, because tickets are selling out fast.

Not for the faint-hearted, Benicassim has become renowned as a bit of a known-favourite for those who enjoy the more hedonistic approaches to life. Most people spend the day-time heading to the beautiful beach with clear-blue seas just a twenty-minute walk from the festival, whilst the evening is spent dancing away to the eclectic mix of acts which perform throughout the night. What I would recommend is considering a hotel, or Airbnb for your stay here, as the camping can be a bit like sleeping in the Sahara Desert. The music acts this year include Liam Gallagher, Pet Shop Boys, The Killers, Travis Scott, Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, Belle & Sebastian, Metronomy, Parquet Courts, and Shame amongst others.

If you think you can handle seven days of partying and music, then Sziget festival is for you. The festival has been established as one of the largest in Europe, taking place in Hajógyári Island, or 'The Island of Freedom' to some. The festival is unique in that there is a killer range of things to do and see, with not only bands headlining but also several performances such as circus, theatre and dance shows. This year, headlining are Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys, Dua Lipa and Kygo, amongst a whole host of other bands such as The War on Drugs, Cigarettes After Sex and Shame.

5. Roskilde - Roskilde, Denmark, 20th June to 7th July, €282

Starting in 1971, Roskilde has firmly established itself as Denmark's most-hyped rock festival. This year, the lineup yet-again impresses by appealing to not only rock fans but all music lovers alike as legendary acts such as Eminem, Gorillaz, Bruno Mars, Massive Attack, Dua Lipa, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Stone Sour, My Bloody Valentine and Stormzy take to the stage. At Roskilde, there is something for everyone and so a great choice if you and your friends have varied music tastes.

Like its name suggests, We Love Green festival promises an environmentally friendly, unique and forward-thinking attitude as well as a lineup packed with fresh and exciting performances. It is no surprise that the festival has become hugely popular not only in France but also in Europe as a whole. In the future, we can hope that more festivals will follow suit, as We Love Green are one of the leading European music festivals to encourage such conscious approaches in a festival setting. Expect to see likes of Bjork, Tyler The Creator, Beck, Jamie XX, King Krule, Nina Kraviz, Sampha, Mount Kimbie, amidst other acclaimed and creative acts.